“Who you are is so much more than what meets the eye. Who you are goes far deeper than how much money you earn. Who you are goes far beyond your job title. Who you are is not found in your age, weight, height, race, gender … Who you are is independent of your relationship status. Who you are is not defined by your children. Who you are is so much more than the story you have been sharing.

Who you are is infinite. Who you are is love. I love you, who you are. I am who you are. You are who I am.”

I wrote those words after sitting in quiet contemplation after asking myself the question,

Who am I?

After speaking to clients, family members and through my own personal journey… It is so clear that we often forget who we are and what our true essence is all about.

Who you are is a soul. Who you are is spirit. Who you are is whole.

It is easy to forget this truth, as we are currently experience the beauty of life through the human body and experience. In this state, we experience the beauty of contrast. The awareness that yes, there is darkness and challenge in this time and space. The beautiful truth is that within the darkness and challenge love & light will always be found, always.

It is important to say again, you are a spirit having a human experience. You are so much more than this body. You are so much more than the story you have been sharing with the world.

What if for just one day you experienced no fear? No self limiting beliefs? No anxiety. At all. Can you imagine it?

What would you do with this sense of freedom?

Who would you want to be?

What story would you tell?

Breathe. Reflect. Write it down.

The answers to these questions will reveal to you, your life’s purpose. You answers will allow you to explore who you are meant to be and how you are meant to carry out your days on this Earth.

Are you tired of living with fear (False Evidence Appearing Real)?

Are you scared to take the next step, the one you know is the RIGHT step for you?

Are you SO over hearing that voice in your head, the one that tells you “you are not good enough or prepared enough or perfect enough” …

If you are ready to send these challenges and experiences love & light and moveee forward with your amazing life. Then now is the time to reach out to me.

I will guide you through this. I will be your support system. I will bring love and light to our personal practice. I will help you to awaken the love and inspiration within you.

See here is the thing, you are already fabulous, already perfect, but we all need help from time to time and asking for help is the bravest step we can make.

Take the step today. I am ready to be your guide.

I am sending you love and light … now and always,

Alexa Katherine <3

I am offering complimentary exploratory sessions to guide you to see your further potential. During that time, we will shed light on your fears and doubts. We will create a vision for our partnership and for YOUR future. Please send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com to schedule your appointment or call 203-554-1324.

Everything is always happening for our greatest good. Challenges happen for our greatest growth. If we can recognize this in the moment and let it go, we can create more joy throughout our days.

I love Autumn because it teaches us SO much! Allow yourself to look at a tree. Truly see the tree for what it is. Can you recognize that the tree is a symbol of you? Can you see how mirroring the tree’s natural process can benefit you? Maybe you can, maybe you are not at that point yet. Where ever you are is A-OK. Let’s deep dive into this for a minute.

Everything that we see is symbolism. Everyone and everything that we come into contact with is teaching us, always. The key is to awaken to this truth. To truly feel how everything is placed around us for our greatest good.

Explore your outside world. Spend mindful time observing the space around you. If you are inside, take a step into nature and catch sight of a beauty tree, any tree that you are drawn too. This tree can also stand tall in your imagination. The tree who was once lush with greenery, abundant with leaves and beautifully full. This tree is now going through a metamorphosis- an internal change. The equinox has changed and this allows for the green leaves to shape, shift and change color. These colors are rich, so beautiful and pure. And… the process to get this way is 100% natural. There is no force. There is no push. There is no pretend. The tree does not spray paint itself another color. It just is.

You my friend are the tree. You are absolutely perfect. Right now. In this moment and in every moment to come. Allow your leaves to change colors, to transform into what they were always destined to be. Allow nature to shift something within you internally.

Just as the tree’s leaves change hues and create beautiful foliage, there is a time when the leaves will gently fall to the ground. This is another time of transformation, another opportunity to let go and allow the change to take place. The leaf is not scared of its fall, it is not premeditating how it may hurt or feel alone on its journey down to the ground. It just is.

The same is true for you. Allow yourself to let go of the parts of you that no longer serve you. Allow those parts to drift to the ground. Allow it to be absorbed by your roots. Allow for a new beginning to begin again. Allow for what no longer serves you to birth life to a brand new beginning.

This is how a tree lives its life. It allows. It trusts in the journey. It trusts in its surroundings. It stays rooted, grounded and strong in its foundation. It holds its top up, connected to the sky, the moon and the sun.

Live your days like this.

Yes, there will be times of confusion. Of challenge. Of misunderstanding. Of fear.

It is within those moment that you gently bring yourself back to this teaching. We are just as much a part of nature as the tree. We are just as much in the same cycle as the tree is.

See it for what it is.

There is a time to be full. There is a time to let go. There is a time to birth again. There is a time to rest. There is a time to be. There is a time to change. There is a time to grow. There is a time to shift. There is a time to fall.

There is a time for everything.

Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your natural time line. It is all unfolding for a specific purpose.

May you breathe into this. May you be reminded of this throughout your days.

Sending love and light,

Alexa Katherine

If you are interested in taking a soul dive. If you are eager to add joy into your days. If you believe there is another way that differs from how you are living life now, then schedule a complimentary soul session with me. I am here to help YOU. I am here to support YOU. I am here to show YOU how freaking awesome you are!

It feels sooo good to finally say... "I am back and I am so ready to continue to create, cultivate and grow my vision, purpose and intention behind my mission to awaken the love within us!"

I must say, the last few months have been filled with amazing moments, such as my beautiful wedding, travels, new life changes and opportunities. At the same time, I have also gone through some more challenging shifts and changes that have allowed me to reflect mindfully about the journey and how it relates to what is going on within me.

My body, mind and spirit have defintely all gone through an upgrade. There have been times over the last few months when I have lost my voice, my expression through words and my writing abilities. I didn't have it within me to post or write. It felt forced, blocked and I wasn't sure why.

I felt the need to take a break from posting, as I continue to explore the balance surrounding social media, SEO, targeted posts and all the other fun analytics involved with growing a business.

Today, I am here to say that I am letting all of that go. I am here to say that I am following my own timeline. I am posting when it feels authentic for me to do so, not when SEO or Google analytics tells me it is. My intention is to teach authenticity and I turn the mirror around on myself (as we always do) to see that I was not always 100% authentic in how I was delivering my messages.

I have taken the time to expand and explore how it is that I want to show up and spread my thoughts, feelings and experiences with the universe. I am mindful to set intentions as it relates to the balance of this amazing space, called the Internet. One that provides a community, a platform to spread soulful messages, but also one that may be defined by comparison, judgement and insecurity.

I intend to grow and expand my beliefs, knowledge and mindset, every day and in every way.

1. My intention is to post when it feels GOOD for me to do so. I am letting go of trying to "achieve perfection" as it relates to SEO or keeping up with a structured posting schedule. It is important to me to share messaging when my heart feels inclined to, rather than my mind saying "you must post now and it has to be this many words or scheduled to go out at xyz time."

2. I am letting go of thinking that what I am posting is far out or weird. Yes, I am a much different person than years ago. I am much different from who I was yesterday and that is the beauty of life, that we continue to explore, grow and stretch ourselves. My messages are meant for every soul, but not every soul will be able to hear me. My role is to continue to post for those who can. To be a voice of love for those who are looking for another way, inspired to help others and awaken the love within themselves.

3. All I want to be, all I ever need to be is ME! The same goes for you. Everyone else is already taken. Yes, that person on Instagram may look like they have achieved more than you have... remember, life is a journey. There is no comparison. There is no judgement of another. It just is. Relax and breathe - you are you and that is amazingly perfect.

4. The Soul Stories series is coming back, but it will be revamped! The new and improved Soul Stories, will be focus on the soul's voice, rather than mine. I will be letting their words and vibrations speak for themselves by sharing their quotes, their thoughts and the love within their hearts with the world. I am going to take more of a back seat and simply, allow their voice to shine.

5. Get Ready.... finally, I will be rolling out a newsletter and monthly emails. These emails will consist of soulful messaging, affirmations to bring into your day/week, story sharing, soulful events and more! I would love to hear from you! What do you want to find in your inbox? What would make your day brighter? The intention here is to fill your inbox with light and love - not to overwhelm or bombard. So please, be honest, what works for you? What doesn't? Please feel free to share your email below and we will be happy to add you to the soul family. :)

6. Here we continue to flow.... over the coming weeks and months, AOK Soul Coach will be going through a brand enhancement. I will share more about my teachings, interests and various services that I offer. It is not only coaching that I offer and it will continue to grow and expand. For a sneak peak of what's to come, think about this... monthly subscription to join the soul family and mindfulness topics discussed each month, a soulful pen pal program and many live talks, workshops and events circled around love and light.

7. I am BEYOND excited to announce a partnership with an amazing student from the University of Rhode Island, Hannah Johnson. Hannah is an amazing woman, who will be partnering with me to spread the message of love and light throughout the URI campus and beyond. She will be owning a section of the email newsletter and will continue to connect with students, parents and community members around Rhode Island and more! Please join me in welcoming here to this soulful space. <3

8. Don't be shy!!! Please feel free to send me an email to chat about topics that you are interested in and how they may be incorporated into the newsletters, blog posts and any other outreach. I want to hear from YOU. I am here to serve you. I am here to allow your voice to be heard.

You are amazing. You are capable. You are worthy. I thank you for following me along my journey. I thank you for being here.

I send you love and light, today and always.

Shine on,

Alexa Katherine

If you are interested in learning more about partnering with me, please feel free to send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com or give me a call/text at 203-554-1324. I so look forward to booking your complimentary session with me. Are you ready to do some soul diving?!

11. Gratitude for the beginning of the journey, all we need to do is just - start.

12. The rhythm of our breath mirrors that of our outside world.

13. The breath connects us to all living beings, to love, to the universe.

14. We each are given a certain number of breaths during this life - recognize each one as a true gift.

15. Any practice can be a form of meditation.

16. S P A C E

17. There is always an opportunity to come back, come back to the breath.

18. In the inhalation, the body is filled with breath, love, life.

19, In the exhalation, the body releases any lower vibrational energy, the emotions that may be stuck or stagnant.

20. Sat Nam = The Truth Is My Identity

21. Imagine the air around us as the love, light & truth that it SO is.

22. Outside meditation... immerse ourselves in nature, learn from the plants, animals and life around us.

23. The practice of listening and feeling divine guidance.

24. The breath is what truly unites us, we are all one.

25. It allows us to see the true connection between all things.

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26. Meditation is for our soul's education.

27. Set an intention and direct the breath to flow to an area in the body- feel that space expand.

28. Transcends time & space.

29. Illuminates the door of greater possibility.

30. Allows us to hear what is calling us.

31. Brings awareness to our core.

32. The healing benefits are amplified when meditating in a soulful gathering.

33. Illuminates the aura.

34. Brings true meaning to Namaste - my soul honors your soul.

35. Activates the chakras.

36. Awakens Kundalini energy.

37. The intention behind the breath - can be sent to anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

38. There is a light within.

39. Our higher self is always leading us home.

40. Allows the release of fear (False Evidence Appearing Real)

41. Promotes a feeling of calmness, peace and love.

42. Begins the day in a state of reflection.

43. Mindfulness.

44. Only love is real.

45. Intuition.

46. Awakens the power of the Third Eye.

47. Laugh through the confusion.

48. Smile.

49. It is all okay.

50. Love yourself.

It is my life's purpose to help YOU. It is my life's purpose to awaken the love within YOU, the love that is already there. It is my life's purpose to guide you through meditation, mindfulness practices and positive energy work. It is my passion to help YOU play the song that's in your heart. You are entitled to a complimentary introduction soul coaching session, please send me an email to schedule your time.

My email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com and I so look forward to connecting with you.

"I believe we are here through the grace of a higher power and therefore, our roles on this Earth are varied and individualized. In the big scheme of things, it is to take care of one another and elevate each other."- D.V.

What is your definition of the word soul?

"I believe the soul is the essence of our being - our personal compass and guide." - D.V.

What do you feel inclined to share with the world?

"Nourish to flourish!" - D.V.

Yay!!! I could read the line "to take care of one another and elevate each other" all day long and smile, every single time! The clarity, beauty and expansiveness of this insight shines through this week's soul feature- oh so much!

Please join together in sending an abundance of love to Donna Vella, the light and truth speaker on this week's Soul Stories feature.

We are blessed to be walking on this planet accompanied by this beautiful soul. Donna has already shared so much of her love and light with the world. There is no doubt that she will continue to do so, especially after her most recent life's transition ... Donna just announced her retirement from corporate America and is now, embracing life from a new perspective!

These are exciting times ahead for Donna, as she continues to embark on her journey as a positive psychology pioneer and overall, lover. Donna has her certification in Yoga Dance for the special needs population, helps others connect their nutritional well being to the health of the mind, body and soul and coordinates holistic living events, talks and workshops.

This is a woman that we NEED on this Earth. The community values what she does and what she will continue to do on her journey.

I would like to take us on a little journey, back in time before Donna and I knew that we were the soul sisters that we SO are!

I met Donna a few years ago on the yoga mat. I did not know her. I was not aware of her name, but I was drawn to her from her energy and presence. I felt her purity from the moment we first interacted.

While I was in coaching school, I was asked to create a list of people that inspired me. I created my list and Donna's name was one of the people at the top. As synchronicity would have it, Donna and I have created a beautiful relationship and now, here she is on the Soul Stories blog... divine timing?!

The universe really is THE BEST!

Donna is a mindfulness teacher. She is the Founder/President of the Positive Living Forum based in Stamford, CT. She is a coach. She is a speaker. She is a yogi. She is a mover & a shaker. She is a wife. She is a daughter. She is a sister. She is a friend.

Donna connects with her community directly, but she does even more than that. She gifts the space for the community to come together as a collective whole.

Through Positive Living Forum and her overall presence, she allows for us to collaborate, expand our thinking, expand our knowledge, expand the love around and within us and expand upon the number of souls touched by this practice.

In the eyes of the community she is a caring, dedicated, loving, bright, energetic and pure soul.

Donna is expansive and she shares the gift of expansiveness with the world around her. She is an explorer. She has the passion to love and carry out each day, with the mindfulness and the wisdom to allow her heart to lead the way- especially during times of transition and change.

Donna's full heart is embracing life on the road in the coming year, along with her beloved husband Mike. Donna and Mike (the raddest couple, for many- many reasons!!!) always have each others backs and encourage one another to dive into the excitement of life! Whether they are attending drumming classes, rock climbing, exploring Colorado or reading soulful books together, we can be sure that they are living their lives to the fullest.

Their next big adventure is just around the corner- as they are planning their journey to tour the world on a motorcycle called the Happy Camel!!!

Throughout this soulful adventure, they plan to continue to connect with souls from around the world, meet fellow motorcyclists, travelers and wanderers alike and share their stories - How amazing?!

Donna has let go of life in corporate America and is embracing life from her heart's center. We know this path is meant for her and she will not be left astray. She has a whole community behind her, supporting her and loving her through this amazingly-exciting time!

We so look forward to reading, hearing and feeling her experiences and interactions with the places, beings and happy events that will undoubtedly cross her path.

What is mindfulness?

"An overall sense of awareness. Not only where you are spatially, but also awareness of the energies coming towards you and around you - from the people you are engaging with and the people around you in a room - and how we navigate moving forward based on that energy/energetic feedback coming in." - Donna Vella

Visit the Positive Living Forum's Facebook page for more information on Donna Vella and this group's soulful gatherings. The Positive Living Forum meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Le Pain Quotidien in Stamford, CT.

May we all continue to unfold on our individual journey. May we find solace in knowing that all is unfolding in divine time. May we know deep in our souls that we are here to "take care of one another and elevate each other".

Sending bundles of love, light & truth to you today and everyday,

Alexa Katherine O'Rourke

P.S. I would LOVE to feature you and your beautiful soul, body and mind on the Soul Stories series. We would like to hear from YOU. We would like to tell the community, tell the world about what YOU and what YOU are doing. YOU are important and YOU are valued and YOU are deserving, in every way. Let's allow your voice to shine together!

Please send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com and we shall discuss the next steps on this amazing journey.

"Our purpose in life is to live and learn, as we learn, we grow and share our knowledge and experiences with the ones we meet along the way."- J.D

Who are you?

"I am here to share good times, good knowledge and share smiles with people." J.D

What is your definition of the word soul?

The soul is the energy inside of us, that makes us who we are. For example, when we have deep conversations with others the energy we feel is a "soulful connection."- J.D

A motivator is someone who ignites enthusiasm, interest & movement.

This week's guest on the Soul Stories series is the definition of a motivator. I am grateful to have come to greater awareness while listening to his interview. Simply by absorbing his words and hearing his truth around the soulful questions that were asked, I feel motivated! Plain and simple.

While playing his interview back, I came across a moment of pure clarity... sometimes I talk too much. HA! Honestly though, as a soul guide I gift others space to share and discover themselves. During this particular interview, it dawned on me... gift even more space. Allow the person to uncover the answers within them without leading them, jumping in to "help" them or explain further.

As I listened to our interview together, my higher self was saying "Alexa, sit back and LISTEN!"

Be fully present and listen to the stories of others with a wider heart. HEAR and FEEL the wisdom that is within those around us.

I was humbled to absorb his responses to the soulful questions that were asked of him. I was intrigued to listen again. I was motivated to continue on with my life's purpose - spreading love & light and sharing the soulful stories of others. It was the way in which these questions were answered that conveyed such curiosity, positivity and change.

So this week, I am going to do a little less story telling. I am going to allow you to simply read and absorb this soul's pure wisdom.

Meet Jared. Jared is a motivator.

Let's take a mindful moment to recognize the empaths, the healers, the coaches... the motivators. Please join me in sending warm light and positive vibes to Jared Dunn!

I met Jared about a year or so ago at my favorite coffee shop, Le Pain Quotidien. Jared is a lead employee at LPQ and he serves each customer and colleague with the biggest genuine smile. Throughout the year, we have created a friendship as we converse about life, coaching, spirituality and the purpose of it all.

I am far from the only soul that Jared has this sort of connection with. I have witnessed him greet many customers by their first name, ask them how their day is going and ultimately, create lasting bonds with them. Jared serves this role to customers of the restaurant, but also to his friends, co-workers and family members.

He is the go to person. The one people seek out for advice, guidance and help in many areas.

What makes Jared a true motivator?

His openness, curiosity and pure intention to help others.

Let's gift ourselves a mindful moment to ponder the people, the places and circumstances that have shaped our lives.

Have you spent time reflecting on the impact your community has had on you or you have had on your community? What purpose does your environment serve? How about the people within that environment?

Speak to your waiters and waitresses. Connect with others throughout all parts of your day. Think before taking your phone out while ordering that coffee... you may miss a genuine soul like Jared who will send you off with far more positive energy than that Facebook post you are sucked into at the moment. Take a minute and look up- Meet Jared.

Jared creates this positive environment within LPQ, for it is not just a job to him ... this is community. This is where he spreads positive vibes and encourages those around him to succeed and go after their dreams.

Be on the look out for him in the near future- as he will be effecting change and growth all around him, as he already is! Until then, absorb his words below and join together in sending him good vibrations and light for his present and future endeavors.

Jared, the motivator.

What is your life's purpose?

"To spark the brain. To change something - not just the community, maybe the nation, maybe the world!"- Jared Dunn

"If I speak up, it might give someone else the courage to speak up too. There's a lot of things that can be changed, right here, in this room."- Jared Dunn

"Be more personal with people - you never know what might happen after that."- Jared Dunn (YES!!)

"I listen when people talk."- Jared Dunn

Who has inspired you?

"I have many inspirations. The first is my father ... my father was always there. He always stuck by his word."- Jared Dunn

"I would also say the musician, Tupac. The messages in his music- they are a lot deeper than people portray them to be." - Jared Dunn

What do you want to share with the world?

"I exist in the depths of solitudepondering my true goalTrying to find peace of mindand still preserve my soulConstantly yearning to be acceptedand from all receive respectNever comprising but sometimes riskyand that is my only regretA young heart with an old soulhow can there be peaceHow can I be in the depths of solitudewhen there are two inside of meThis duo within me causesthe perfect opportunityTo learn and live twice as fastas those who accept simplicity" - Tupac Shakur

Oh my goodness- this interview is just SOUL good. :) During the recording, I even stopped Jared to say "WOW - this is the best response to these questions I have received all day!" I am still over the moon excited about it and know in my heart that Jared is well on his path to being a change agent, thought provoker and leader. As he is already doing it!

May we all send love & light to one another, hold sacred space for each other and continue to learn everyday in every way.

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish in wealth & power, but in the passionate sense of potential, in the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Soren Kierkgaard

What makes you the amazingly beautiful soul that you are?

"I think like a horse and I see the possibilities in everybody."- Carrie Brady

What are some words that describe you?

Loving, Optimistic, Enthusiastic

The possibilities are infinite. This mantra circles around the lovely, nurturing and resilient- Carrie Brady.

Carrie is this week's soul story feature and oh my goodness, we are in for a treat! Carrie is the owner and lead horsewoman of Possibilities Farm in Wilton, CT. Possibilities Farm is a haven to Carrie, Paddington, Sweet Potato, Mere and every other being that is blessed to spend time in this sacred place.

Paddington is the cutest miniature horse, perfectly titled "Director of Laughter and Joy", followed by the beautiful all white Mere, titled "Vice President of Wisdom and Wonder" and finally, protector Sweet Potato titled "CEO - Chief Equine Officer"! Each one of these amazing beings can (and might!) be featured on their own Soul Stories post, as each of their backgrounds is unique, transformative and thought provoking. For instance, Paddington was the 39th miniature horse that Carrie met at a rescue, before taking him home to Possibilities Farm. The Director of Laughter and Joy is now training and carrying out his life's purpose as a healing & therapy horse. This is some pretty amazing stuff!!!

May we take a moment to send Carrie, Mere, Paddington & Sweet Potato our love, light, encouragement and positive energy!

As a spiritual symbol, a horse represents freedom, intuition, power & resilience. Carrie teaches us "horse wisdom"- the act of living through the lens of these beautiful beings. To graze. To shift. To be. To breathe. The Possibilities Farm core belief is partnering with horses to bring out the best in humans."

Carrie has created a beautiful haven and not only created a oasis for the beloved horses, but for each soul that finds their way to the farm. It is quite a magical experience to say the least!

Let's talk a walk- in our minds- to experience the farm, without actually being there!

Visualize This- You are on the farm, with the full moon up above while meditating in the presence of these special horses. These beings can sense your energy, vibrations, feelings and intentions... purely. While in meditation, the horses perform a ritual around you and while you are not 100% sure what is going on, there is no question that something beautiful & transformative is taking place. You open your eyes to feel a subtle, but present shift. To laugh about the magical experience that just took place. To appreciate the horses and their purpose. It is unlike anything else.

This is what time at Possibilites Farm feels like. It is unique and powerful for each soulful being that finds their way to the circle.

Carrie created this space. Carrie manifested this. Carrie dreamt about this and she made it happen to help people like YOU!

Carrie teaches us to see life through the eyes of a horse. To recognize that it is more than okay to explore new things. To remind us that we can train ourselves to shift out of something that no longer serves us, just as the horses do.

To take a closer look at our feet & see how we are grounded and rooted down into the soil - just as the horses do.

She teaches us to recognize that we have infinite possibilities - that we have the free will to decide if want to change, adapt or shift our lead... just as the horses do.

A common practice among the horses is to return to graze = delight= living in the light for humans!!! Carrie teaches us that again and again, we can come back to graze, connect with our infinite being and be the light.

During our soulful gathering Carrie was asked to define the purpose of life, to which she responded "to love and share your gifts." She truly lives by her definition, as she dedicates her heart and soul to showing us how to incorporate joy into our daily lives. Carrie teaches us the joyful way to be through her experience, connection and relationship with her horse family.

The manifestor behind Possibilities Farm truly uses horse wisdom to transform the lives around her, whether she is practicing reiki, bringing Paddington to the local pizza place, hosting a full moon meditation circle among the horses or simply- cleaning up the farm on a spring day- we know she is carrying out her soul's purpose.

What is your definition of the word soul?

"The part of you that is infinite and eternal"- Carrie Brady

What is love?

"The purpose of life."- Carrie Brady

What is the purpose of this life?

"To love and share your gifts." - Carrie Brady

May we all send love and light to one another for an amazing week ahead! May you find your joyful moments, may you tap into your limitless potential, may you dream and breathe POSSIBILITY!

p.s Are you interested in being featured on the Soul Stories series? If so, please feel free to connect with me. I am now taking submissions to be a part of this fun project. This will give you a chance to answer soulful questions, speak about your life's purpose (possibly discover it!) and share your unique messages and experiences with the world. We need YOU!

p.p.s my email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com and my phone number is 203-554-1324. I SO look forward to hearing from you. :)

Deborah is a beautiful soul, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing for many years. We both have a deep love for the great state of Vermont, where Deborah will be retiring in just a few short months! This is her dream and aspiration, so let's send her good thoughts and vibes that she will meet this part of her journey- REALLY soon! <3

Deborah and her husband have been building their dream home on an expansive piece of land in the Green Mountain State. The walls of their home are filled with pieces of her and her husband's soul, their overall relationship and their family values. They treasure the solitude and connection they experience while up in their cabin home in the mountains.

She is kind, caring and comical! I asked her to list some words that describe herself and I laughed out loud when I read the word "feisty". I immediately thought of a peaceful warrior and how she is protective of herself, her family and overall, exhibits healthy boundaries. What an amazing quality! When I think of Deborah, I immediately hear her contagious laugh, feel her kindness and caring heart.

Her soul has forever impacted her beloved mother, her son and daughter, her grandchildren, her husband and the school district that she served for many, many years.

Deborah's story is a bright light within many stories that speak about the importance of family connection, happiness and self-worth.

The Soul Stories series encourages us to ask ourselves these same questions!

Sit with a pen and paper and journal it out. Discover more about yourself. Get connected with your emotions, your self-expression.

The purpose behind Soul Stories is about YOU taking a soulful swim within; by asking these questions to yourself, your family and your community.

Deep questioning is an aspect of soul coaching - to ask the questions that you have never asked yourself before. To spend mindful time feeling your responses, rather then thinking with your intellect. Ask these questions of your heart.

Explore them and learn to truly know and FEEL what lights you up! Write the question at the top of a piece of paper or in your journal. Then, begin to see how your are being guided to respond.

Allow yourself to feel that feeling of joy and flow - you emit positive energy when you are in a state of gratitude and higher awareness and as we know, like attracts like! So this means feelings of gratitude and being mindful of your own self awareness, will send out the ripple of gratitude, love and appreciation into the universe and that will ALWAYS come back around to you. Karma baby!

Once you get acquainted with these questions yourself, ask them to those around you. Inspire others. Show other souls how to do the soulful work to deep dive within to explore their personal answers.

The more we ask these questions to ourselves and those around us, the greater we are as a collective group - As One.

When we recognize that although we may look different, have individual clothing styles, practice various religions, hold differing jobs, skin colors, body type ... the list goes on - at our core, we are all the same. We are all looking for love. We start by recognizing that love is found within.

So let's teach each other this.

Let's ask these questions to our family members, friends, co-workers, our children. We ask these questions to further our understanding, to let go of judgments that we may carry and take our awareness to the next level.

Ask to hear their responses with your heart, not so much your ears. Ask to feel what they are saying, not give your opinion or personal feedback.

Ask from a pure state of wonder and curiosity.

Ask these questions to strangers. Is there really such a concept? Can anyone truly be a "stranger"? Have a deeper conversation. There are billions of people in the world right now and you just-so-happen to be next to this one person in line or on a call for an hour with a help desk technician? Coincidence.... SO much more!

Use this as an opportunity to discover the good people out there!

The good people, like Deborah, who when asked what brings her the most joy- she responded with "making others feel happy", other people like YOU!

This my friends, is a true gift. What more can we ask for as human beings than to extend a helping hand to those in need? What could be more important than serving others?

Let go of what fear based tactics that the news fills us with. Let go of societal fear. Let go of judgments. Let go of the unknown. Make the unknown your friend.

Let's create our own reality. Spread the message of love. Embrace one another. Find the soulful beings that are the helpers, the lovers, the caretakers. They exist around every corner, in every day. They exist, just like Deborah does.

Read and absorb these stories and then share your experiences with us. Please share a discovery that you found while asking these questions to yourself or others. This is soulful homework, this is something that we did not get taught in school. This is getting more familiar with our thoughts, our feeling and emotions. This is power.

I am sending love and light to you Deborah and every other soul apart of this journey. We are all here together. We are all walking each other home. We are all here to serve one another.

"I like to make others happy and I am happy, when I can do that." - Deborah Abbott

Go out and shine your light this week. You are a star that will NEVER be dimmed.

With love,

Alexa O'Rourke <3

Does this interest you? If so, you are on the path to discover more about soul coaching and partnering with me. Please feel free to send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com or call me at 203-554-1324, for a complimentary consultation call. Soul Coaching is a mix of deep questioning, mindfulness, meditation, self-care techniques, personalized practices and more! The investment for soul coaching is $444 per month.

***

p.p.s. Please send me an email if you would like to be featured in the Soul Stories series. I am accepting professional photographs and soulful questioning responses so that YOU can be featured in the series. Spread love!

We are all born to this life for a specific purpose. We each bring a unique quality or qualities to this Earthly plane - during this time - right now.

It is easy to get caught up in judgement, it is easy to look at ourselves & others and think; "this is what they should be doing." or "this is what I should have done - or should do".

When we use the word "should", it automatically sets our minds up to judge. We judge ourselves for not being where we think we are "supposed to be". We judge others for not leading a life that we feel they "should" be leading.

Ultimately, the judgments that we pass on to others are actually judgments we have within us. It is all connected to our own stuff, our own insecurities, our own fears... but that's a blog post for a whole other day! :)

For now, there is no supposed to be, there just is!

Can you feel your heart guiding you away from something that no longer serves you?

Develop a sense of independence and strength by following what is truly in your heart. This can mean a million things, but here are some examples: Maybe you are feeling a change in career? Maybe a hobby has turned into your life's passion? Maybe you want to adopt a life-style change that society has debate over? Maybe a practice that serves you no longer does, like drinking alcohol or wild bar nights out? It can be a million of things, so sit quietly and gently ask yourself what is personal to you.

Take a walk through these steps, which will allow you to embrace your own heart and step into the world unapologetically, as YOU!

1. Accept that where you are is EXACTLY where you are meant to be.

Especially in times of challenge, recognize that there is always a greater purpose. The key is to find it.

All is unfolding in divine time.

2. Let go of other people's opinions and/or projections.

Don't allow the outside world to sway your heart - because in reality the people judging you are in need of the most love themselves.

Send them love and light and move on with your day!

3. Spend time alone.

Reflect, journal, connect with yourself. Talk to yourself, take yourself out on a date. Sit at the coffee shop alone, go to a movie solo or just sit in the middle of a park and watch the comings and goings of the day.

Get to know YOU.

4. Start your day off by re-affirming who you want to show up as.

Try wearing something different - something brighter - something with patterns - something that expresses the story in your heart.

Re-affirm to yourself, "Today, I am following my heart."

It is always a little frightening to change things up... all the more reason to try it! Let's get comfortable with change, it is life.

5. When fear creeps in, recognize that the voice of fear is NOT you.

That fear voice is learned behavior- absorbed from societal fears, your parents projections or stemming from fears of your peers or your old self. All of these elements created your ego/fear based-mind. See it. See it, just as you would a separate person who has a scared soul.

Repeat, "This thought no longer serves me, thank you."

Release and let it go.

6. Get comfortable. I mean REALLY comfortable being "the different one". Get comfortable not following the crowd. Get comfortable being the odd one out.

In theory, you are never the odd one out... it just may be that the group you surround yourself with does not have the same views. That is A-OK. Again, this is life.

Embrace the differences. Know that you are loved and there are other beings in your soul family out there. You will be connected with them soon, if not already!

Use this as an opportunity to plant seeds. Sprinkle them all around.

Follow the wisdom in your own heart & detach from outside approval.

7. Practice patience. If it doesn't already, your story will all make sense one day!

TRUST. What is meant to be for you, will find you. For certain.

8. Laugh.

Laugh through the confusion, the external judgments, the internal ones.

Laugh through it all. It is all good. Always.

9. Create healthy boundaries.

Truly, send love and light to those who challenge you. Recognize how your paths differ.

There is nothing bad here, this is the way of life. People change, grow and move - just as nature does. Flow with it.

10. Live your life for YOU!

Live every moment to the fullest. Live every moment being you, doing what feels good in your own heart.

Check in with yourself and ask, "what would I do if I truly loved myself?"

The answer to that question will not lead you astray. :)

I am sending you an abundance of love and light this week. There is no one on this planet that has the unique skills, traits and values that YOU do. There is no time to delay, be the YOU that is in your heart. Step out on your path and just go with it. It all doesn't need to be figured out today.

One step a time from the heart space is all it takes.

What is your one step?

It is my true passion to talk, listen and hear from lovely souls about their life dream! It is my passion to help guide you through the ups and downs of daily life. It is my passion to help YOU play the song that's in your heart. You are entitled to a complimentary introduction soul coaching session, please send me an email to schedule your time. The monthly investment for soul coaching is $444 for (3) 45 min sessions.

My email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com and I do look forward to connecting with you,

After speaking to many clients, fellow coaches, family, friends and other lovely souls; it has come to my attention that we are all in search of validation. What if we recognize that the most meaningful validation will always, always come from within?! We all have the ability to tap into our higher-self, to use intuition and spiritual guidance to make the best decisions for ourselves... every single day.

I know, I know. This is easier said then done, but trust me... it can be done!!! That is the key here. We can teach ourselves to be our own biggest-supporter.

This week it is all about how to follow our intuition, our "validating" voice, the higher self or whatever word you would like to use to describe your infinite being! First, I will share a major "aha" moment I experienced to paint the picture of energy, positive vibes and tapping into our intuition.

"I am a spiritual teacher!"

WOW!!!

It truly feels amazing to commit that to writing in this space. I have pages of journal entries with "I am a spiritual teacher" written, circled, starred and underlined. This is an excerpt of a journal entry that I wrote this week:

"I am a spiritual teacher. I am a spiritual guide. My heart SINGS as I write this - it's the true song of my heart. By shifting this language from coach to "spiritual teacher and spiritual guide" - this allows for me to be the very best guide that I can be for other souls. This allows me to carry out my purpose while feeling and knowing that I am on the right path."

I know this because I can FEEL it. My energy picked up so much as I was writing that excerpt, showing me that my soul is SUPER excited by this realization too. I am not shifting what it is that I do, but I am shifting how I articulate what it is that I do.

A Simple Shift = Tremendous Growth

I now recognize that AOK Soul Coach is my business, but I am my business. The business IS me. So my intuition lead me to let go of hiding behind a business title, to let go of putting out "AOK Soul Coach's" values and mission and not "Alexa's", to let go of creating a barrier to hide behind if I was judged or misunderstood or whatever my fear based mind thought about at the time.

It is now time for Alexa, "spiritual guide/teacher and owner of AOK Soul Coach" to step 100% in front and own it!

Are you looking for validation outside of yourself? Are you seeking clarity on the new path you are upon? Are you feeling like now is the time to awaken your internal knowing? Let's take the next few seconds to truly feel this.

As we now know, true validation can only come from within. So let's do some soul diving, to speak with your higher self, about what it is that you are thinking about right now!

1. S P A C E - We need space. We need quiet time, alone time, thoughtful reflection in order to truly come to any realization. Create space by meditating, journaling, spending time walking in nature or listening to calming and relaxing music.

2. Ask Yourself DEEP Questions- "What am I feeling right now?" "What am I looking to achieve?" "What is the next step that will take me from where I am right now, to where I want to be?"

There are literally countless open ended questions that we can ask ourselves, please feel free to ask me for some inspiration! I am more than happy to send you some soulful questions that will allow you to uncover more about yourself! My email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com

3. Write It Out - Write down the questions you have asked yourself and then, begin to free write your response. Try not to think too much about it, just see what the pen is guided to reveal to you.

4. Become Aware Of Energy- Before you tune into energy as it relates to emotions and feelings, let's do a mini experiment:

Think of a time when you may have eaten too much, such as over a holiday like Thanksgiving. After eating you are stuffed, you can't move and your energy is low. Feel what it feels like to be in that body.

Now, think of a time that you committed to do something physically active. You knew your body had to be prepared to run that road race, so you fueled it with the right foods, water and positive talk. You are now ready to RACE down the finish line.

Okay, so just like we can apply the feeling of energy in our bodies from food. We can apply this to thoughts, feelings and emotions! Just as we experience a lower vibration in your body via food, you can feel a lower vibration thought too!

My thought "I am a spiritual guide!" is HIGH vibrating. I know this because I was super excited to finish writing the sentence, I am eager to explain and say it to others and I feel GOOD about it. All of this and more = high vibrating thoughts and feelings!

5. Talk To Someone Whom You Trust - Ask them to be a soundboard for you. Talk out your business plan, ideal wants/values of your future partner, the exact home you are looking to purchase, etc. This will allow you to see how clearly you are articulating your values, needs and feelings out into the universe.

6. Look For Signs - Literally- look for signs! There are signs all around us, all the time. Put a note on your calendar or computer. Once you have sent a thought out into the universe, ask for it to be validated through other signs and messages.

"Please show me validation that I am on the right path by x,y,z."

As an example, I LOVE to see number sequences. A whole other blog post will be covered on this, but numerical sequences are divine gifts, really & truly! They carry messages and meanings and they can be connected to you and your world.

Maybe numbers aren't you thing, but you are connected to colors and/or animals. Animals and colors can also be interpreted as divine messages, making them an amazing tool and for further guidance and validation. (since you are the one asking for the validation, the external validation is actually coming from WITHIN you- HA! :) )

7. Keep An Open Mind- Be mindful that the universe has greater plans for you. The message and/or sign may not come right away or it may not come at all. There is a message within the message if the sign doesn't come... it means it is not meant for you. What is meant for you, will ALWAYS find you. Always.

8. Invest in a Life Coach- A life coach will truly help you become more in-tune with your intuition. The practice of life coaching consists of everything listed and more. A life coach will help you open awareness within yourself, which will allow for you to live a more conscious life, every day!

Stay open, keep flowing and bring those positive - high vibrating thoughts to top of mind! Gift yourself the space and time to play with this. Have fun- this and anything else in this life, is not to be taken too seriously! Laugh, laugh, laugh. :)

Where you are right now and whatever you are doing is absolutely perfect in this moment, if it wasn't.... you would simply not be doing it.

Please feel free to send me a love note at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com or give me a call at 203-554-1324 to schedule your complimentary soul coaching call! I truly look forward to guiding you towards your dreams. The life that you want to live, is absolutely possible.

***A friendly reminder- the Soul Stories photo shoot will take place on Monday, May 7th from 5 - 7 p.m. at Le Pain Quotidien- Stamford,CT. Please email, call or reach out to me via social media @aoksoulcoach for more information! We look forward to seeing you there.***

How is this SPRING week treating you? We are here friends! The trees are blooming, the grass is greener and the flowers are coming out to play. Take a look around you, nature is a reflection of what is going on within us. What are you blossoming?

AOK Soul Coach has planted many seeds over the last few months. These seeds have been in the form of blog posts, photos posted to social media, conversations with strangers and coaching sessions with clients, just to name of few! All of these wonderful life moments have allowed for the next phase in the journey.

The reveal of a new concept called AOK Soul Coach - Soul Stories!!!

The idea behind Soul Stories stems from the awareness that the true purpose of AOK Soul Coach, is to showcase YOU! Soul Stories is a weekly blog and social media series. Each week a beautiful soul's story will be featured. These stories will be from clients, family members, friends, co-workers, strangers, like minded folks and lovely beings from all aspects of life - living all across the globe.

Each week, a soul story will be shared and it will be connected to an aspect of soul coaching, life, the purpose of it all, love and connection. The stories will be told through the art of photography and the beauty of words.

Each person will be asked a question or series of questions as it pertains to their life's experience, greater awareness and love, always love.

We are here to learn from each other. We are here to connect, to interact and to ask one another powerful questions. We are here to inquire about each other's backgrounds, cultures and communities. We are here to help each other and allow for one another's voice to be heard. We are here to speak our truth.

We are all in school, Earth school. It doesn't matter your age, gender, degree, income - Simply being alive on this Earth, means we are in school. Period, plain and simple. While in school, we learn the most from our surrounding community. Think back to when you were in grade school? Where did you learn most from? Our friends, teachers, guidance counselors, family members, mentors... other souls. This is the key, we truly learn from one another.

The intention behind the Soul Stories series is as follows:

To provide a safe space for sharing.

To ask the questions featured in the blog series to ourselves inwardly, to speak to our family members, our friends, to strangers about these questions, to learn about their values and beliefs. ASK the questions, you may be surprised by what you will learn.

To show that love is real & great people do exist. They are around every corner!

AOK Soul Coach is about YOU! I will continue to post personal photos and stories, but this new channel will feature what is truly important, YOU :)

To give back to the community, to strangers, to family members and supporters. To gift the platform and space to be heard.

To expand AOK Soul Coach's reach by inviting souls from the whole world to participate. We are all one!

To create art by marrying the beauty of people & photography with loving words and awareness.

To show that you are not alone. This is your haven. We are your friends and supporters. There is a community of us always supporting you.

To speak your truth.

To raise the collective consciousness.

To remind ourselves that we are love & light and together, we shine the brightest.

Are you local to the NYC/Fairfield, CT area??? If so, the first photo shoot will be on Monday, May 7 from 5-7 p.m. at LPQ in Harbor Point- Stamford, CT. *The project will open soon to welcome professional photo and soul question submissions, for those who do not live in the NYC area. :) Stay tuned to learn more!

If you are interested, please email alexa@aoksoulcoach.com & I will provide further details.

Do you want to be a part of this adventure?! Let's do this!

I would LOVE for everyone and anyone to participate, the following is what will be asked of you:

Be YOU!!!

Answer a brief "soul questions" interview- which will feature questions such as "what does love mean to you?" "What are you grateful for?" "What do you believe the purpose of life is?" "Tell us a story about you, your life or any lessons that you have uncovered?"

A photo of you- HOWEVER, if you want to remain nameless and faceless, we can make that work! Shaina of Shaina Lee Photography is an amazingly talented photographer and I am honored to further showcase her artistic abilities. Shaina can take full portrait shots, but also photos of just eyes, back of head, tattoo, jewelry pieces, etc. If your wish is remain anonymous, we can make that work!

Let's have fun with this!!!

The photos/interview will take no more than 5-10 mins per person. This is not only a chance to tell others about your story, but also to connect and become more aware of ourselves and the world around us.

Please don't be shy. You are uniquely talented, beautiful and are worthy of being showcased, in this way and many others!

I am sending you an abundance of love and light.

The investment for soul coaching sessions is $444 per month for (3) 45 minute sessions. The price to be in the Soul Stories series, is 100% free. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to be involved in the Soul Stories series and/or a part of the AOK Soul Coach journey. My email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com

As you know, I am the owner and founder of AOK Soul Coach. My mission is to gently guide and awaken my clients, my community and ultimately- myself, to the state of love. To help us all recognize that we are all in this together, all connected and all equal.

AOK Soul Coach aims at helping both men and women who are committed to self-growth, who recognize their fears and are honest about how to use their unique challenges for their greatest transformation.

Does this sound like it could be you?

Through our partnership, you will learn and uncover more about yourself, as it relates to your "who", who you are at your core, what your values/passions are and how to relate better to yourself and the world around you.

The relationship you have with yourself is where it all begins, literally.

As within, so without.

Each coaching relationship is unique and specifically catered to YOU!

You still may be thinking, okay I am still not 100% sure what she means. What is a life coach? Is she going to do my laundry or organize my day to day schedule... not exactly. We are going to go much deeper than that, the deeper we go, the more awareness we gather.

Some of my guided partnerships have experienced these themes woven into the coaching relationship:

Intuitive coaching with a focus on law of attraction & manifestation

Gently guided by asking open ended questions, sound boarding off your thoughts and conversations with yourself/the universe (it is all connected!)

Partner to help create journal prompts, self-care techniques, breathing practices and any other awareness activity catered to your needs.

FUN- we will laugh and celebrate through the ups and downs of life on this beautiful Earth!

Space- The space to sit with your thoughts, to feel them and see what comes up for you in between questions/conversation. Silence can be a golden tool.

There is no judgement, ever. You are safe. Your feelings are safe and you are free to openly share, always.

Again, you will uncover your own unique values and shifts when you engage in this partnership. It is oh so exciting to learn more about yourself and this life!

How will your life change as a result of our partnership?

Your soul relationship, the relationship you have with yourself will change (if YOU want it to, remember you are the one that does the real work, creates the real shifts, YOU have to want this!). We will partner together to discover your greater purpose, deepen your self awareness, hear your inner voice and heal your external relationships.

There is truly nothing more important than the relationship that you have with yourself. This new found awareness will shift your relationships with your significant other, your parents, sisters/brothers, friends, co-workers, strangers... the list goes on and on.

What is the ultimate vision of AOK Soul Coach?

AOK Soul Coach brings together the vision of oneness, unity and love for one another regardless of our differences. The coaching partnership teaches you to BE kindness, BE Love & BE Truth. This love & energy will be reflected within you and each being you come into contact with will FEEL it.

We are here to raise the collective consciousness, one soul at a time.

What is the story behind AOK Soul Coach?

There is no better time than the present to engage in this partnership, remember if you are reading these words... you are drawn here for a specific reason - Be Here Now ...thank you Ram Dass! This is an opportune time in your personal life and also, in society to spread love, light and awareness to our greater communities.

I believe we are all equal and can (will) awaken to our best selves- to create our best lives!

AOK Soul Coach is in existence because holistic approaches and acknowledging our thoughts & feelings and learning from them (=coaching!) is VITAL in today's day and age.

So here we are my friend, you have been engrossed thus far. Follow your intuition, does this sound like it may resonate with you? Are you looking for another way to live this life? Let's do this together. I am here for you, always.

Please feel free to give me a call to schedule your free consultation call. The monthly price for coaching is $444 for (3) 45 minute sessions. We can talk more about what YOU will get out of the coaching relationship during our time together.

The only true way to find out how coaching will shift your life, is to jump in!

We are all here to learn. To grow. To fail. To fail again and then, to pick ourselves back up and start over.

As life would have it, the past week has been chock-full of lessons and I have witnessed my shadow side coming through with some force. I would say "oh, hey there!" to Mercury retrograde, but I am stepping into a place of authenticity to say it is more than that. It is my responsibility to take ownership of my shadow side and fill that space with love, light and awareness. The shadow side is basically defined by how it sounds... it is the darkness of ourselves, our short comings, the areas which are in need of our greatest growth.

So honest confession time. I drank too much this weekend. Ouch. The embarrassment. I rarely have these instances nowadays. Nonetheless, it happened and now is the time to take ownership of it.

I have also experienced similar blockages with coffee. I wrote myself a letter last week to convey my thoughts about why I reach for a cup of coffee from time to time and the true meaning behind it. It was a letter from my higher self as a reminder of how I feel under the influence of this substance. The emotions and feelings that come up for me when I indulge in a cup, include (not limited to) having the jitters, a need to move from one thing to the next, stomach problems, issues going to sleep, challenges being in the present moment and in my meditation space. Everybody, every body, is different. I am incredibly sensitive to such substances, so coffee and alcohol effect me and my life's path in a negative way.

We are all unique and respond to external forces differently. Rather then say, "let's eliminate these things completely", it is more so to convey the message of being connected with your own body. Tune in. Feel what's going on within your body and mind while on and off these substances and anything else, for that matter. Ask your body what it is that it needs or can do without.

While under these substances, I ask myself "what is the intention behind my use or attachment to the need of these external sources?"

This is about stepping into vulnerability and using it for our highest growth. My history and failures with substances like alcohol and coffee will fuel my growth, my journey in self awareness and will help me continue to become the person I am meant to be.

Dear substances,

You are not good for me and my highest growth. You create a toxic environment within my body, my temple. A place which my pure spirit and essence of who I am decides to leave me when these drugs come into play. In the past, I used alcohol to make me “the life of the party” and to give me a sense of "liquid courage." I used coffee to make me a more productive worker, to give me the extra shot of energy that I believe I needed. This pattern continued on for years. The day after drinking, I would walk around with enormous amounts of anxiety. I was constantly worried about what I did and what I said. I recognized that it wasn’t the way I wanted to lead my life. I have read many articles and pondered my relationship with these substances in the past. Alcohol literally means "spirit-killer" and that is how I feel while I am heavily under the influence. Over the last two years, I have drastically limited the amount of times I drink alcohol and coffee. Nonetheless, I still have challenges and areas of growth around it.

My apology. I apologize to anyone whom I may have hurt under the influence of such substances. I apologize for any inappropriate behavior. I apologize for using hurtful words when I was not connected and aligned with my higher self. I apologize for letting myself down. I apologize for putting chemicals into my body and not treating my body as the temple that it is. I apologize for the people I have let down when I wasn’t in the right state of mind or quite frankly, even present in my own body. I apologize for decisions I have made that may have put myself and others in harms way. I apologize.

Again, I find solace in the ho'oponopono prayer. This prayer is what I say as healing for myself and those around me. I say this prayer to send love and light to the mistakes and challenges that I have caused to my body. The meaning behind this powerful healing affirmation is sent to those who may have been negatively effected by my lack of mindfulness while under the influences of such substances.

What do you need to forgive yourself for? Who do you need to send this prayer to? Say it silently to yourself, while in meditation. Breathe in the words. Truly feel and mean them. See the words being sent to the person or area of your body that needs it most.

I continue on my journey of learning to be the best guide and coach that I can be. This is real. This is truth. I am far from perfect. I am also stepping into a place of vulnerability by sharing my story and my challenges. It is my hope that we truly help each other learn about what we are putting into our bodies and what our intentions are behind these practices.

Have you experienced similar situations as this? What is it trying to show you? What is it teaching you? Where do you still need to improve?

For me, it’s to continue to learn and grow from my failures. I look at my failures through the eye of how I can use it for further self expansion and awareness.

This week, the universe showed me a powerful quote attributed to Michael Jordan. He is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Yet, he was quoted speaking about his mishaps. The number of games he had lost in his career. The number of times he has missed a game winning point. The number of times he has failed as a basketball player. He specifically calls out how he used his failures for inspiration, to get up and try again. To strive to be the best that he could be. He did not let failure define him, rather he used failure as fuel.

That’s my intention as a guide and the owner of AOK Soul Coach. I am not perfect; far from it. I fall out of alignment and I make mistakes. I believe that this is what makes me a better coach. I recognize challenge as a means for growth, especially during times when I have allowed my ego to steer my life. It isn’t very pleasant! In fact, it is down right uncomfortable, it is anxiety ridden, it is shame. These emotions and feelings are vital because it brings me back to center and to what really matters, loving awareness.

To be able to forgive myself for the mistakes I have made and use that darkness and shame for my greatest growth.

My body is my temple. My body is my haven. When I allow chemicals and substances like alcohol and coffee into my body, it lowers my vibration. It causes me to lose sight of my intuition, it disconnects me from my source of love and goodness. It’s a reminder for me to always be mindful of the intention behind any practice, behind anything I choose to give my attention to.

I encourage you to ask yourself the same questions. What is your intention behind what you choose to engage in?

Step into a place of liberation by shining light on your darkness and shadow side.

So here we continue to come... a new week and new lessons to be found around every corner. There is no judgement here. This is a safe space. Please feel free to call me to share your shadow side, the only way to grow from it is to acknowledge it, shine light on it and let it breathe. Let's do this together. It is not so scary when you have a partner.

Please give me a call at 203-554-1324 or send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com to connect. We can do this!

Mercury retrograde has been here for a few weeks now and has a bit more to go. To provide a brief glimpse into this phenomena, let's apply the concept of "as within, so without". This framework is also true about the sky, everything is written in the stars, "as above, so below". Mercury retrograde is another opportunity for us to learn about what is going on in our solar system and how it directly effects us and the human experience.

So I generally like to post the blog on Wednesday mornings and I am pretty committed to following that schedule... Until this week, when Mercury retrograde decided to play with me a bit! I actually had an entirely different post planned and ready to go, but it just didn't feel right. Throughout the weekend, I experienced a few epiphanies that shifted my intentions to write about my wildly fun, at times challenging and overall, eye-opening past weekend.

Pete and I are getting married in Vermont this July - Yay!!! We truly love the Green Mountain State and make it a point to visit as much as we can. This past trip had been planned for weeks, as we were heading up to finalize some fun wedding details. We hit the road for our mini excursion last Friday evening and we were pumped! The energy was amazing, as we were really looking forward to exploring, planning and just spending quality time together.

So there we were, in the car after traveling for 5 hours to find ourselves heading up the steepest back hill in northern VT at 1 a.m., with no cell service in a small sedan and no warning of what we would find...

The biggest mud pit/slide that ourselves and our little car had ever seen! As we attempted to climb the mountain, the car was slipping and sliding everywhere. Our little car did not have the traction it needed to move one more inch. We tried to push it, again and again. We wanted to make it up that hill, so so badly!

Until, a mindful moment allowed me to intuitively tell Pete to "stop." To stop completely. We put the car in park, took a few deep breaths and re-evaluated our situation. It was clear that our original plan was not going to work. So we reversed (literally drove backwards) down the hill and even though we were both exhausted, we decided that it was not the right time to brave it up the mountain.

I was upset and I allowed myself a few moments of wallowing. The entire perfect weekend I had mapped out in my head, was not unfolding to plan. At that moment, a major shift occured:

Gratitude.

Gratitude.

Gratitude.

Pete and I were safe and sound. Our car was in decent shape and we did not have to sleep in it that night! Life was treating us well. We spent minutes re-affirming our gratitude, we were okay and not stuck in the car. We did this again and again.

This is where the true story begins.

The mud and car issues that we experienced (it did not stop at the first night, it was days of traveling through mud and dirt) reaffirmed the true purpose of not only, mercury retrograde but of life in general.

Life does not always go as planned. There is difficulty. There is mud, dirt and rocks. At times, the mud pulls us down and we feel stuck. We may feel scared or angry. There are hills and mountains on our path. We may need to change course, reevaluate or make our way back down the mountain, just to turn around and go up again.

As this is all going on, remember the sun always rises again. Light pours out to birth nature and love into the Earth. Water evaporates and slowly, the road becomes firm and solid. Slowly, we get on our feet and take one step at a time to continue on our life's path.

This is what mercury retrograde is all about. Yes, "she" has been known to mess with our transportation (case in point, mud slides and car issues galore), communication, relationships, contracts... the list goes on. But, the most important aspect of Mercury retrograde is, reflection.

This is the time to be with the difficulty and recognize what the universe is trying to teach us. How can we be more gentle with ourselves? How much more can we let go of control and just allow our path to unfold? What can we be grateful for even (especially) in moments of challenge?

This is a time of inner discovery.

What is your mud this week? What is your challenge? Where do you need to change course?

Let's talk about it. I would be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation session with you. Please feel free to send me an email at alexa@aoksoulcoach.com or give me a call at 203-554-1324.

I am sending you love and light today. You have found yourself in a loving space. I know we are all feeling Mercury in retrograde in one way or another, so let's be mindful to take extra moments of self care and love.

Today is a day of acknowledgement. We are brought to this moment to express gratitude and appreciation for all that we have accomplished. Let's decide to gift ourselves the time and energy to truly recognize our unique beauty.

It is super easy to get caught up in a pattern of the day to day routine. It can feel like we are running on a hamster wheel when we continuously check off of a laundry list of to-dos. There is always "more work to do", "another thing to fix" or "the next step to take". In order to truly feel our accomplishments, we must stop and reflect upon them.

My own life experience and connecting with fellow souls has taught me that we have a collective need to acknowledge and appreciate ourselves more.

In one moment, the power of a miracle can be unveiled and life is simply moments; beautifully tied together.

We often get stuck in the ego mind and that may sound something like this "when I get that job, title, income, relationship, weight, etc... then I will be accomplished." or "I haven't done anything really special."

Simply being alive on this Earth, at this very moment, is special. So if you look at it from that perspective, literally every step you take in this life is an accomplishment.

Some days an accomplishment can be getting out of bed and other days, it can be landing your dream job or having a baby! There is nothing too big or small. We can and shall acknowledge everything that we come across on our path.

So I challenge you... in the most soulful way... to acknowledge yourself.

Take out a piece of paper, the notes section in your phone, speak it out loud to Siri or Alexa (no pun intended!). It doesn't matter what you do, it just matters that you do it! Allow yourself to acknowledge at least 15 life moments when you felt grateful, accomplished, appreciative, joyful, connected, etc.

What has shaped you? Where have you invested your time, money and energy? What is unique and special about your path? What do others thank you for?

Complete this practice for your soul, it will fill your heart with loving awareness that can only come from within.

Once you have spent time reflecting on your own self care, take this day of acknowledgement to the next level!

Acknowledge someone else. Express gratitude to the coffee house barista, a co-worker, a partner, a friend or a stranger. Take a few extra moments to appreciate someone for who they are. Acknowledge how their role in your life has made things simpler or easier for you. Think about a time when it felt amazing to receive an acknowledgement for the effort and energy that you put in to something. Recognize that you can gift someone the opportunity to feel that way too!

The more we are in a state of recognition and gratitude, the more that state will be awakened in those around us. Imagine a community where we all express our gratitude for each other on a daily basis, how nice that would be. :)

I am grateful and appreciative of you.

I encourage you to send me an email so we can schedule your complimentary consultation session. My email is alexa@aoksoulcoach.com and I so look forward to our connection.

Let's talk about law of attraction, manifestation and affirmations. Let's talk energy baby.

Everything is energy. Everything is vibration. A vibration is always pure. Always real. It is what it is. Our vibrational frequency attracts everything that is unfolding around us.

So that amazing house you just bought... you attracted that. Your perfect date with an eligible bachelor/bachelorette... you attracted that. The place that you are reading these exact words and everything around you at this moment... you attracted that. The difficult people in your life, the pain points... you guessed it... you attracted that too.

This reality opens up beautifully to one of my favorite affirmations, said by Teal Swan "forget that anything outside of you exists."

Let's take a moment and think about life as a video game. There are various graphics, effects and technology that go into the creation of the video game, just like life itself. We are all the players in this game. As virtual reality can be, it is sometimes disorientating to be the player on the screen and the player who is behind the scenes operating through a remote control. It may leave us confused. Are we the one who is running and moving on screen? Or are we behind the scenes? This is the same for life. We walk around thinking that we are solely on screen and that there is nothing more. As we forget all about what is happening on the other side of the veil. We believe that there is nothing or no one supporting us from behind "the screen". This couldn't be further from the truth, but because we cannot see it... we often dismiss it.

Through the remote control holder, the player's next step in direction is streamlined. This is the same with life! Recognize that we are never just the player on the screen. We are always connected to greater consciousness/life force (the remote control holder) we just need to recognize that life force as being there and fully present, always. Life force energy conveys to the player on the screen the next move to make, the next step on the journey. This is also the same in everyday life. We are not just the bodies that physically move or take the next step. We are always connected to consciousness, God, the universe, love, energy, life force... or any other words that feels comfortable for you to use.

We are always one with source. If we tune in to this reality, then we will be able to clearly choose the right energetic frequency. We will be able to align ourselves with life force (that remote control player) so both the source and the player on screen are on the same page... and doesn't it feel good when both our hearts and heads are on the same page!?

Repeat this affirmation each morning as you awake. Recognize that starting each day off with reaffirming this reality, will allow for major shifts and changes in thought patterns. "I forget that anything outside of myself exists. It is all happening within, always."

You are reading these very words because you are an energetic match to read this message and absorb this information. If you were not an energetic match, quite simply... you would not be reading this post. Does that begin to make a little bit more sense? Everything that you come into contact with is there because you called it to be there. It is there to educate you, in the exact way that you are ready and able to do so.

To live in a state of "forget that anything outside of me exists" requires us to to be in a place of authenticity at all times. True recognition that we are always creating inwardly; requires moment to moment awareness. This mindfulness allows us to continually check in with ourselves and our thoughts, which allows us to be aware of the energetic vibration we are putting out into the universe.

Vibrations of anger, resentment, fear, jealousy. entitlement and guilt are all of lower vibrations. Therefore, it will cause those exact vibrations to be circling around you and throughout your life. Vibrations of joy, gratitude, fun and peace are of higher vibrations and will attract those higher vibes into your life.

So it seems quite simple. If you want love, happiness, joy and fun - emit those frequencies from yourself and voila- there you have it..... however, we are human. Being human creates confusion, as our ego mind can steer us away from our path. It can be complex and confusing, maybe you are not sure if you are absorbing energy from those around you? Or maybe you are allowing your ego to steer you unknowingly and it is causing you to attract those lower vibration circumstances in your life. This is why it is important for us to continuously ask ourselves questions. Check in with yourself to gain further clarity on where you are on the energy sphere.

"Is this thought one of love or one of fear?" "Am I doing x,y,z to promote connection and oneness or for egotistical/selfish reasons?" The clearer we become on the frequency and quality our thoughts, the more aware we are to positively effect our surroundings. As within, so without.

There is no separation, it is all an illusion.

Is there an emotion you may be suppressing? Or blocking out? Begin to spend some time with these emotions and feelings. If we are blocking past pain points, we still may be operating from a lower frequency and therefore, calling into this life the very situations we are looking to avoid. The time is now to embrace past pains and sadness. Open up the blocks and learn from them, it is the only way to release, heal and grow.

Recognize the discomfort, the discomfort is a gift. A gift to tell you that this isn't your natural way of living. That this isn't who we are. We always have the ability to tap into love. Tap into source. Tap into the remote control operator (a greater extension of yourself)! We always have the ability to raise our frequencies. We always have the ability to attract into our lives exactly what we want. We just have to set our inner intentions to meet that outward creation.

So tune in. Tap into your frequency and get fired up. Get excited about knowing that you hold the power and always have. Be empowered knowing that no one can create your world. There is nothing that someone can say or do that can dictate your life. It is all about how you perceive and take in the content that was outwardly (seemingly) directed to you.

So let in what serves you, let go of what makes you feel small. Embrace your highest vibration. Do this by laughing, dancing, moving, helping, being, enjoying, learning.

When you are content within yourself, that happiness and peace is awoken within those around you. All is connected.

There is no separation and life force energy, our vibration is what connects all.

So we have been meeting here for a few weeks now. I am grateful for your presence, please know that you are drawn here and reading these very words for a specific reason. Let's think about it...you could be anywhere in the world reading anything under the sun right now, but you are here with me. That is amazingly special! You are what the movement of mindfulness, life coaching and positive living is all about. You are AOK Soul Coach!

My mission and purpose as the owner and founder of AOK Soul Coach is to gently guide and awaken my clients, my community and ultimately, myself to the state of love. To help us all recognize that we are all on this ride called life, together. As one. We are all connected. We are all equal. We all have experienced collective and personal moments of darkness, sadness and fear. We all have been there. We are all mirrors of one another. We are here to help each other. My purpose is to be truly helpful. AOK Soul Coach was created to help YOU discover your unique inner light so we can shine together as the collective universe.

Through our coaching partnership, souls who are a part of the AOK Soul Coach community will learn and uncover more about themselves and the world around them. Together, we will explore your "who". The "who" is who you are at your core. It is your heart's center and cannot be defined through age, gender, race, relationship status, occupation or any other way society has classified us. The "who" is your unique skills, your values, your love. It is your life's purpose.

We all have and will continue to experience challenges. AOK Soul Coach is here to guide us through the ups and downs of life and to reshape the way we look at those moments, so we can recognize that our challenges are our true gifts. There is no better time than the present to begin, be here now! This is an opportune time for both me and you to spread love, light and greater awareness into our communities, throughout our planet.

The book The Fruitful Darkness by Joan Halifax speaks about shamanism and the practice of healing. The teachings found within the book are truly inspirational and are a large part of the foundation in which I have built AOK Soul Coach.

A shaman is one who has experienced deep pain and sadness. By allowing this deep darkness to be, a shaman is able to transform their experience into love and light, for all. Through the process of awareness and letting go, they allow light to pour into the darkness and use their experience to help the community around them. There is nothing more beautiful than this practice, as the main focus is simply to serve other souls.

The technique of AOK Soul Coach is to be with you, to ground you and root you all while opening up to greater possibility. Together, we can create practices that will help provide greater clarity:

Increase positive energy throughout your day!

Add joy, peace and calm to your relationships. This begins with exploring the relationship you have with yourself... as that is the single most important relationship of all!

Discover greater clarity on the transitions that are occurring in your life. It doesn't matter what the transition is. You may be at a stage in your life where you are about to transition careers or shift into retirement, get married and/or find yourself newly single for the first time in years. Together, we will uncover and discover that it really doesn't matter what the actual life event is, what matters are the feelings and emotions around these events and transitions. We will explore these emotions and tap into what is going on underneath the surface.

Gift yourself a mindful moment, truly feel that AOK Soul Coach is all about you. I would love to hear from you. What questions do you have? What have you struggled with and how has it transformed you? What do you want to know about life/soul coaching? What would you love to get out of coaching?

I will continue to publish further education on life/soul coaching, AOK Soul Coach's mission and to further clarify my intentions of helping each of us awaken to our limitless potential.

I send you love and light on your path. Make today count. Be love today.

I hope your March is off to a fabulous start! Let's begin the season of spring with a vision of greater health and connection for our bodies and minds.

This past month marks my one year vegan anniversary! I can honestly say that shifting to a plant based diet was one of the best decisions I was guided to follow. I know my body is at optimal health and I recognize that adopting this life style change was the very best choice for me.

Now maybe you are not vegan, are confused by it or simply, you are not interested in learning more. That's perfectly a-ok, as this is not about veganism. The intention behind this post is to shed light on how we can be more mindful of our health through diet and exercise; BEFORE we even discuss what it is that we are consuming.

A healthy diet and exercise begins in our minds, of course!

About halfway through writing this, the words "Eat Better, Feel Better" greeted my gaze. If that isn't a sign to move forward with this week's topic... I don't know what is. So here it goes!

1. Retire the old story of "I don't like veggies or I don't eat that kind of food." This used to be me, so I feel comfortable saying that this is some b.s. Embrace change! Everything is constantly changing and the same is true with our taste buds. Learn to love foods that are good for you.

2. Before you think of changing your diet, adopting veganism or any other life-style change... ask yourself, why?! What purpose is behind your change in diet? Is it to be skinner? Is it to intentionally fuel your body with healthy energy sources? Your answers to these questions matter!

3. Bless your food. Take a moment of gratitude before you eat. Look at your plate. What's on it? How much food is there? What colors make up your meal? What aroma is being sent into the air? Who prepared your food? Again, these answers matter.

4. Check in with yourself as you are eating. "Is this the most loving food I can be fueling my body with right now?" If so, how? If not, what is? How will that food better assist your body and mind?

5. Drink Water. We are water. We need water to survive. Water is cleansing and purifying for our mind, body and heart. Often times when we think we are hungry, it is our body really telling us we are dehydrated. Make a game out of it - how much water can you drink by noon? 6 p.m.?

6. Take daily vitamins and a probiotic. A healthy gut = a healthy body.

7. Are you bothered by a certain body part? Acknowledge it. Touch your arm, tummy, legs or whatever spot you need to give further validation to, repeat "I'm sorry, I love you, Please forgive me, Thank you." (this beautiful healing prayer is called Ho'oponopono and there will be another post on this prayer alone... coming soon!). Let's stop for a moment to recognize how grateful we are for our bodies, these beautiful power houses. A true universe within itself. How amazing that these flesh vehicles transport us and connect us to our environment?! Let's be grateful for them, first and foremost.

8. Before you get to the gym to take that workout class, run the treadmill or whatever you prefer to do to sweat it out... Check in with yourself! How do you feel? Why are you about to work out? How do you hope to feel after the work out? Tomorrow?

9. Gather as much background knowledge as possible regarding the food you are consuming. Was your food made my loving human hands or mass produced in a factory? Are there additives and chemicals included to increase shelf life? How do you think those elements will play out inside your body?

10. Increase the amount of steps you walk per day. Gone are the days spent driving around the parking lot to get the closest spot to the door. Purposely, park the farthest away! This is an easy way to get your steps up and increase that blood flow.

11. Be gentle with yourself. Do you have an "all or nothing mentality"? Let's shift this mindset. We don't have to push ourselves to the max. If we simply show up and allow our bodies to guide us through our best workout, then all is more than perfect. Whether it is a long walk, a intense run or a 30 min TRX session, it doesn't matter. Just move. It is as much an exercise for your mental state, as it is for your physical body.

12. Don't wait until Monday or "next week" to start fresh. Start right now. This very moment. The only time is now. You are capable and you can do this. Tell yourself that continuously!

13. Surround yourself with friends who support you. We are who we surround ourselves with. Build your own natural support system. Maybe you will find a gym buddy to encourage you to keep that fitness appointment? Trade bar nights for healthy meal prep night. Encourage each other to get moving and stay focused.

14. Create a health journal. Start by writing down how you feel when you eat certain foods, do certain workouts, even wear certain clothing. Writing down and reflecting upon your answers, will help you become more aware of what is going on in and around your body.

15. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. You are perfect the way you are. Right in this very moment. Everything until now has served you the way that it was intended. If you have struggled with fitness, weight or body image it doesn't mean it will always be this way. Open up to something greater and encourage yourself to stay on this path.

Yay!!! We made it through 15 shifts that can be implemented TODAY to shift the energy around our bodies, our minds and the foods we eat.

Take your time with these practices. Some of them may resonate with you, others not so much... it is all good! Absorb what is meant for you and challenge yourself to try out and/or stick to some of these techniques.

"A being whose awareness is totally free, who does not cling to anything, is liberated."

Ram Dass

To be aware is to be here, now. To be in the present moment. To recognize that we are the space in between. The space in between the thoughts. The space in between the breath. The space in between the movement. Within that space is who we are, who we all are.

A soul who is aware of this, to know that we are all connected, is a being that is totally free. There is absolutely nothing that surpasses this awareness, not time... not space.

The good, the bad... experience it all. Understand that it is all temporary. Everything changes and will continue to. There is no need to cling to anything. It is all a cycle, all meant to play out exactly the way it is now... the way that it will continue to. We are all a part of a plan that is far greater than us. Accept all that comes as the greatest plan for your soul's growth.

We are always being guided. Each conversation, each place we visit, each encounter, each person. They are all meant to be there for a specific purpose.

As humans, our brains and basic nature create challenges with staying in this mindful state. The key is to keep allowing this state of mind to drift into your consciousness. If this awareness leaves you be gentle with yourself and just allow it to be, with no judgement. Let go of attachment. The awareness will drift back to you and the more you continue to place your state of mind there, the greater this state of awareness will be found in your day to day life.

Take an inventory of your mind... are you dependent on anything? Can you recognize the healthy patterns in your life? The not so healthy patterns? To be in a clear state of awareness, is to let go of anything that you believe defines you. This could be a job, monetary income, the country you live in...the story you have told about yourself thus far. Let it all go.

Let go and allow yourself to be guided to your highest path. Accept each instance in your life, for what it is. The difficulty, the challenge, the failure. Accept it all.

As I reflect and write this post, I know that my connection with fellow light workers is not by happenstance. This very blog post was inspired to be written because I received this teaching of Ram Dass. On a Monday morning, I opened my inbox to find a note from a fellow friend/mentor/light worker. I smiled as I read it because of the clear synchronicity, defined as a meaningful coincidence... but really, the universe showing/telling you that it has your back! :)

Three years ago, I would not have known about Ram Dass or his teachings. I also would have been blissfully unaware of the deeper connection and message behind it all, which is the gentle guidance encouraging me to continue on this path. To continue to learn, read and educate myself through the teachings of other enlightened souls. I am to relax deeper into my path of self-connection, self-care and understanding. To continue to learn about my judgments and fears and allow them to release, fall away.

I will continue to do this... so I can be the most helpful to myself and ultimately, for those around me.

So let's tap into your personal occurrences of synchronicity. Have you been thinking of starting a new job? Going back to school? Begin dating again? Starting a family? Whatever you feel you are being guided to do, sit with it a little longer. If you have seen/felt/heard signs of validation in one way or another (this could be from receiving an email about a friend wanting to go back to school too, a new dating site that your co-worker told you about, a "random" phone call from a childhood friend wanting to travel the world, a piece of art or photography or the written word that holds a hidden message that only you can see... the messages and forms of synchronicity are limitless. Trust your gut and continue on that path. Those are the signs that are being directed to you, to show you that you are being guided to follow the exact path that is meant for you! How cool?!

Blessings for a fantastic week. Continue to self- explore. Ask yourself about your fears, your judgments, your occurrences of synchronicity, the good, the bad, the in-between. Can you recognize the patterns in your life? Can you sense the lessons that are being used for your greatest good? The answers are here... let's discover them!

We all experience challenges from time to time. Although it may be difficult in the moment to acknowledge this ... challenges are a necessity of life. If we really reflect upon it, the challenges we have faced and overcame, made us who we are today.

Challenge = Growth

Let's explore this a little further. How would your current self differ if it weren't for the unique challenges that you have faced, are facing or will face?

Trust me, I have had a hard time acknowledging the necessity of some of the pain points that I have been through in this life. When I take mindful moments to truly think about the unique circumstances that I have been through... I am in a pure state of gratitude. Gratitude because life is unfolding exactly the way that it is meant to be, for me and for you.

If you find yourself dealing with similar issues over and over again, then it is a beautiful opportunity to look within. How can you be causing this same scenario? What are your judgments? About yourself? Others? Get really clear on them. Write them down. The answers to 'why' these issues are repeatedly coming up in your life are found within your answers to those questions.

As we are going through times of challenge, remember to stop. Breathe. Breathe in and out, again and again. Sit with yourself for as long as it takes, until you come to clarity or an 'aha' moment. In that beautiful moment, continue to shift your thinking. Repeat "This is not happening TO me. This is happening FOR me."

Okay- great! We are at a pivotal moment of recognition when we shift our thinking to "how is this happening for me"? From this place we are open and ready to let the true healing begin, light and love.

Every time we experience fear, anger, resistance, ignorance, sadness.... it is there so we can open up and experience more love. Surrender to love. Love is always present, especially in times of darkness. Invite love in. How can it help guide you? How can love help teach you?